• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2007

This study sought to compare intake levels of major dish items and food groups between normal and obese Korean children in order to understand obesity-related eating behaviors. The study was also conducted to apply the information on the differences in major dish items and food groups found in this study to development of a brief food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for children's obesity-related eating behaviors. Finally, the developed FFQ was evaluated for reliability. A total of 290, 24-hour dietary recall data from 9-11 year-old normal or obese participants in the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were reviewed to identity dish items and food groups showing outstanding differences between the normal and obese groups. Based on the level of intake amount between the two groups, a total of 7 items, including ddeokbokggi, spaghetti, ham roast, pork cutlet, dairy products & ices, kimchi, and fruits, were selected to be included in the FFQ. The former 5 items were seen to be consumed more in the obese group, while the latter 2 items were so in the normal group. The questionnaire was formatted into a frequency response section of a seven-category option and reference period of the last 7 days. Test-retest reliability of the developed FFQ was examined by administering it to 153, 9-11 year-old children at a public elementary school in Seoul twice at a month interval. The level of reliability was found to be reasonably high. In conclusion, this study suggests that high consumption of several high-calorie dish items and low consumption of kimchi and fruits may be important eating behaviors in relation to obesity risk among 9-11 year-old children who need nutrition educators' attention. The current study also implies that a simple FFQ can be utilized to reliably assess 9-11 year-old children's diets.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 2020

Purpose: Obese children may often present with advanced bone age. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between factors associated with childhood obesity and advanced bone age. Methods: We enrolled 232 overweight or obese children. Anthropometric and laboratory data, and the degree of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were measured. We analyzed factors associated with advanced bone age by measuring the differences between bone and chronological ages. Results: The normal and advanced bone age groups were comprised of 183 (78.9%) and 49 (21.1%) children, respectively. The prevalence of advanced bone age significantly increased as the percentiles of height, weight, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) increased. BMI z-score was higher in the advanced bone age group than in the normal bone age group (2.43±0.52 vs. 2.10±0.46; p<0.001). The levels of insulin (27.80±26.13 μU/mL vs. 18.65±12.33 μU/mL; p=0.034) and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (6.56±6.18 vs. 4.43±2.93; p=0.037) were significantly higher, while high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were lower (43.88±9.98 mg/dL vs. 48.95±10.50 mg/dL; p=0.005) in the advanced bone age group compared to those in the normal bone age group, respectively. The prevalence of advanced bone age was higher in obese children with metabolic syndrome than in those without (28.2% vs. 14.7%; p=0.016). The prevalence of advanced bone age was higher in obese children with a more severe degree of NAFLD. Conclusion: Advanced bone age is associated with a severe degree of obesity and its complications.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.470-478
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• 2019

Purpose: The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children is gradually increasing. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of serum adiponectin and soluble adiponectin receptor 2 (soluble Adipo R2) levels for the diagnosis of fatty liver disease in obese and overweight children. Methods: The study included 51 obese and overweight children between the ages of 6 and 18 years diagnosed with NAFLD using ultrasonography and 20 children without fatty liver disease. Patients whose alanine transaminase level was two times higher than normal (${\geq}80U/L$) were included in the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) group. Results: NASH was observed in 11 (21.6%) of the patients with NAFLD. The incidence of obesity was higher in patients with NASH (80% and 45%, p=0.021). While the adiponectin levels were similar in patients with NAFLD and those without, they were below the normal level in the whole study group. Adiponectin and soluble Adipo R2 levels of patients with NASH were lower than those in patients without NASH; however, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.064 and p=0.463). Soluble Adipo R2 levels in obese patients with NAFLD were higher than those in obese children without NAFLD (p<0.001). Conclusion: Soluble adiponectin receptor 2 level is a noninvasive marker that can be used for the diagnosis of NAFLD in obese children.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2012

Objectives This study was designed to find out the relationships between obesity and growth, skeletal maturity among children by analyzing body composition and bone age. Methods Subjects were composed of 577 children from six years to seventeen years of age, without any other diseases related to growth, were measured their body composition and bone age. Results As obesity index was increased, the RH-MPH(%) and skeletal maturity significantly was also increased. The RH-MPH(%) of the obesity group was significantly increased than that of normal weight group; the skeletal maturity was more increased in th obesity group. It means the recent height of obese children was more taller than that of inherited from the parents, while skeletal maturity of obese children was more rapidly progressing. The RH-MPH(%) was increased in children who revealed stage of second sexual character; skeletal maturity was decreased in children who developed secondary sexual character. Conclusions Obesity children might be taller than what it supposed to be. However, obesity could cause the increase of skeletal maturity. It means the growth plate of obese children has been closed early.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2017

Child obesity has become a significant health issue in Korea. Prevalence of obesity in school-age children in Korea has been alarmingly rising since 2008. Prevalence of obesity among infants and preschool-age children in Korea has doubled since 2008. Obese children may develop serious health complications. Before nutritional counseling is pursued, several points should be initially considered. The points are modifiable risk factors, assessment for child obesity, and principles of treatment. Motivational interviewing and a multidisciplinary team approach are key principles to consider in managing child obesity effectively in the short-term as well as long-term. Nutritional counseling begins with maintaining a daily log of food and drink intake, which could possibly be causing obesity in a child. Several effective tools for nutritional counseling in practice are the Traffic Light Diet plan, MyPlate, Food Balance Wheel, and 'Food Exchange Table'. Detailed nutritional counseling supported by a qualified dietitian is an art of medicine enabling insulin therapy and hypoglycemic agents to effectively manage diabetes mellitus in obese children.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.107-118
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• 2000

This study was designed to contribute to the right development of children's physical strength and growth by making a comparative analysis of 6 graders' physical strength with the help of the 6 events of physical strength tests according to sex and trying to work out some relationship between obese children and normal ones. With this in mind, the subjects were 400 elementary students, obese and normal, who reside in Seoul. The results were made by means of the average records and standard deviation test of 6-event physical strength tests per sex and group. The conclusions were as follows; 1. The normal children's average score was better than those of their counterparts, showing a significant difference in the 6-event of physical strength tests. 2. There was a little difference per sex. And there was a significant static interrelations in 4 events except a 100 m race and a standing broad jump when the subjects do well in the two afore-mentioned events. All the other groups minus female normal one show a low interrelations in such events as a 100 m race, a chin-up, and hanging down from the horizontal bar. 3. The obese group was inferior to the normal one regardless of sex. In terms of the physical interrelations, there was no difference among the three groups minus the female normal one.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.553-560
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the lipid peroxidation, plasma antioxidant status and insulin resistance in childhood obesity. To this end, we measured blood lipid profiles, glucose, insulin concentrations, plasma antioxidant vitamins, baseline conjugated diene formation as a measure of LDL oxidation in vivo and TRAP (total radical trapping antioxidant potential) of 93 school children (58 nonobese, 35 overweight-obese). Insulin resistance was estimated by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The overweight-obese children showed significantly higher levels of leptin (p < 0.0001) and triglyceride (p < 0.05) and significantly lower level of plasma Iycopene (p < 0.001) and $\gamma$-tocopherol (p < 0.05) compared with the normal weight children. Furthermore, the levels of TRAP were significantly lower in overweight-obese children (p < 0.05). Significant positive relationships between plasma leptin and conjugated dienes formation (p < 0.005) and inverse relationship between plasma leptin and lipid corrected levels of $\beta$-carotene (p < 0.05), Iycopene (p < 0.05) were observed. Our results showed an increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant capacity in childhood obesity which could be involved in the atherosclerotic process.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.106-117
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• 2004

The factors of obesity related with food habits were assessed to provide information for nutrition education database. The subjects in this study were 234 primary school children in Busan. Children were classified into normal and obese groups(mildly obese, moderately obese and severely obese) by obesity index. In self-recognition of body image, only 28.6% of MI group considered themselves as 'overweight or obese'. 87.2% of the subjects controlled their weight method with exercise. With regard to meal speed, 64.5% of the subjects ate $fast({\leq}15\;min.)$. The study also found that 79.8% of the subjects ate breakfast, 56.4% of the subjects them were moderate by obese, 40.8% of the subjects ate snacks after dinner. Eating speed, meal volume and snacks money per day were significantly different in obesity. Preference for eating out was Korean Chinese, Western and Japanese food, in order. Favorite food for snack, such as ddukbokki, fruits, milk. fried foods and candy and caramel were significantly different in obesity(p<0.05). However hamberger, pizza and chocolate were not significantly different in obesity. The most preference snack for all the subjects were fruits and ice cream. In food preference, potato, dduk, meats, fishes, cheese, milk, ice cream were significantly different in obesity. The distasteful food for subjects were patbab, vegetables, shellfishes and salt-fermented foods. From above results, obesity of children was related to meal speed, meal volume and snacks motley per day. Therefore, these results suggest that continuous and practical nutrition education to change food habits art necessary to avoid child obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.84-91
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• 1992

The purpose of this study was to find family characteristics, habit of dietary intake, physical exercise, and mothers' concern related to obesity through questionaires among 5th grade children of 5 emementary schools in Taegu city from May 29th to June 8th, 1989. The data used in this study were collected from 245 obese children and 327 normal children by Body Mass Index with their body weight and height, and measurement of Triceps Skinfold Thickness The findings were as follows: 1. This survey revealed that Triceps Skinfold Thickness was 11.0mm in the obese group and 7.5mm in normal group. Their parents body weight and BMI of the obese group were higher than those of the normal group. 2. Ending of weaning of the obese group had a faster tendency than that of the normal group. 3. It showed that the children of obese group had a hearty appetite during the evening meal and children of the normal group did so in lunch time. 4. The normal group was willing to take exercise but the obese group was not so. 5. Mothers of the obese group showed deeper concern at quantity of dietary intake and physical exercise than mothers of the normal group for their children's health.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.956-962
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• 2018

Childhood obesity causes a higher risk of obesity, premature death and disability in adulthood. In addition, obese children experience an increased risk of respiratory problems, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and psychological effects. This study aimed to investigate how an exercise intervention affects health-related physical fitness and inflammatory-related blood factors in obese children after. We hypothesized that there would be positive effects on serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), connecting peptide(C-peptide) and resistin, as well as in muscle and cardiovascular-related physical capacities, after an exercise intervention in obese children. Thirty-seven obese children haveperformed health-related fitness tests and provided blood samples for the analysis of changes in circulating biomarkers, both before and after an 8-week exercise intervention, which includes stretching, aerobic exercise, resistance exercise and sports games. The results indicate that exercise training beneficially affects body compositions, especially percentage body fat and muscle mass, without influencing to body weight and height. The results of the physical fitness tests show that muscle and cardiovascular capacity were increased in obese children in response to exercise training. Simultaneously, the exercise training decreased circulating levels of C-peptide, which equated to a "large" effect size. Although there were no significant effects on the levels of IGF-1 and resistin, they show a "small" effect size. Therefore, our findings suggest that the exercise intervention have beneficial effects on body composition and physical fitness levels in obese children, whichmight be associated with the decline in circulating C-peptide.